New Bengali blog "Pen-Akash"

"Pen-Akash" is a new Bengali blog on peace and human rights. It is running bu an exile journalist Jahangir Alam Akash. Akash is also running an online newspaper called "Euro Bangla" on peace, democracy and human rights. Presently, he is living in Europe. The thoughts for the society haunts him always. He sees man above religion and color. In favor of the people, truth, justice and with the professional mentality for social welfare, he has grown up. Akash is a professional and non communal Journalist with a mind of free thoughts. To clean the society garbage and darkness, he himself was compelled to get out of the country. Though in exile, he thinks and feels for his motherland all the moments. This exiled Journalist, in each write up has told us about peace, harmony in his motherland and in the world.

For over the last two decades Jahangir Alam Akash has been writing intensively and courageously on the matters of Islamic Militancy, extra judicial killings, state-persecution, tortures on religious minority and indigenous people, corruption, political terrorism, the women-mishandling and last not the least for the common and helpless people who suffer without rights and justice. As a school boy he has entered the domain of journalism due to his conscious realization of the superstitions of the society, corruption, injustice, lawlessness and affliction of strong over weak. His mission is to attract the attention of social and governmental machneries for the healing of these humiliations. Taking enormous risks for his own life he is advancing onwards with the strong belief to establish democracy, peace, human-rights, equality, fraternity and for a secular society. Akash is strong in mind for an independent people's media: Owing to this he has become victim of harassment's and tortures many times by the state, Islamic militarism, independence-opposing circle, opportunist political groups and corrupt-gangs. Attempts were made to stop him through cases, physical attacks and Threats. On professional causes, with fictitious political and exasperated charges he was imprisoned two times so far. But he could not be tamed. He is writing till now as before. He was born in far north of Bangladesh where Himalaya begins. His birth place is Panchagarh. His parents are father, Shafiuddin Ahmed and mother, Sahida Khatun.They are 5 brothers and 3 sisters. His position is seven out of eights children. Journalism is his profession and addiction!

He has passed the Bachelor of Arts (B.A. honors) and Master of Arts (M.A.) in Philosophy from Rajshahi University. From the same University he obtained the degree of post-graduation in civic-journalism from Mass Communication and Journalism. He worked for the International media German Radio (Deutsche Welle) in Bengali section (as a freelancer), in the daily Sangbad (oldest Bengali newspaper of Bangladesh) and in CSB News, the first 24 hours TV-Channel of Bangladesh and for Ekushey Television as Reporter. He took also the special trainings on TV and Radio, Newspaper and Online journalism from home and abroad. His many works on human rights were much praised. He attended various workshops on Journalism and Human Rights in Asia and Europe. Presently, he is editing the online newspaper “EURO BANGLA” (http://www.eurobangla.org/) This absolutely deals in press freedom, peace, minority-Indigenous and human rights. He was the first journalist who first covered as investigative reporting on the activities of Islamic Militants and extra judicial killings in Bangladesh and drew the attentions of national and international media. On these grounds he became the target of State and Militancy. He got the “International Human rights-Day Prize of 2008” sponsored by the the private organization, Christian Development Alternative as a recognition of his courageous journalism and his special contributions towards the human rights. His research against the Islamic-Militants and fearless journalism, he got the ‚Nongor Shahitya Puroshkar (Anchor-Literary Award) in 2005.

His Bengali books are: ‚Andhokare 15 Ghanta (15 hours in total Darkness)', ‚Bichar Bohirbhuto Hattyakando ebong Pritihingsha (Extra judicial killings and revenge', ‚Jongi Godfather o Annanya Proshongo, (Militant Godfather and others)' and ‚Udichi Theke Pilkhana (From Udichi to Pilkhana). His English books are “Struggle for Peace” and “Away from Home” and “PAIN”. Pain has been published from USA. This book is now available in Amazon and other international online bookshops (http://www.amazon.de/Pain-Jahangir-Alam-Akash/dp/1456858025).

During the past interim-Government of Bangladesh an unusual Rule of Emergency went on. He became then a combined victim of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Army and a vicious politically influential circle. He was arrested unlawfully and put to inhuman tortures. In the Rajshahi Central Jail he passed 28 dark-days. After release, facing incessant threats to his life, he was forced to leave the country. As a politically oppressed journalist, he was living in Germany and in Austria for two years (from May 2009 to May 2011). Now he is living with his wife and little son through “Fribyforfatter” programme of ICORN in Norway. He was the elected General Secretary of Rajshahi University Press Club and Rajshahi Union of Journalists and also an executive member of the Bangladesh Federal Journalists Union (BFUJ), the highest organ of Journalists. Apart from this, he was the Publicity Secretary of Rajshai District Udichi, the forerunner cultural Association of Bangladesh. He has traveled to many country including Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, France, India and Hong Kong etc. His Bengali blog is "Pen-Akash" (http://penakash.wordpress.com/)